New Zealand Wage Growth Sluggish as Economy Booms

New Zealand's Economy Is Booming, Yet Growth in Wages Is Sluggish

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Truck driver Basil Hauraki is fed up with his wages being stuck in a low gear.

Mr. Hauraki, from the town of Whangarei, and co-workers recently went on strike to demand a 1.8% pay increase that would offset rising costs of everything from vegetables to housing. In a recent bout of belt-tightening, the 44-year-old, even reduced the amount of meat bought from his local butcher.